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Households set for hefty hike in their rates bills

RATES bills are increasing again after Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed a hike of almost three per cent.

At a special meeting on Monday, the council struck a 2.99 per cent increase for the 2018/19 financial year.

It will mean an average increase cost of £13.10 per annum or 25 pence per week to the average domestic ratepayer.

Council said the rate had been struck against a backdrop of cuts to central government funding and other pressures that the authority has successfully absorbed to ensure the increase represents significant investment in growth across the city and district as outlined in its Strategic Growth Plan.

In addition to the inflation rate of 3.1 per cent, it is having to absorb a number of statutory pressures including pay awards and pension costs, central government cuts, including the continued reduction of the Rates Support Grant, the council has revealed.

Following the agreement last year of a two-year funding package for the City of Derry Airport, there is no proposed increase to the annual subvention budget.

Chief executive, John Kelpie, said the increase will allow the council to continue with its impressive capital development investment plans that include its new Strategic Leisure Capital Plan for Templemore and Strabane, the ongoing development of parks and greenways, the advancement of a feasibility study and costing for Strabane Town Centre footbridge in partnership with central government, as well as advancing with a range of community centre developments and the development of business cases for major regeneration schemes for Derry's City Centre and Strabane Town Centre.